Razor blade sharpener



Feb. 7, 1933. Gl W BOWERS 1,896,348

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed Oct. 17, 1930 2 ySheets-smeet l -Feb. 7, 1933. Q W- BOWERS 1,896,348

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed Oct. 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 7, 1933 GEORGE W. BOWERS, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER 'Application filed October 17, 1930. Serial No. 489,368.

This invention is embodied in a simple machine adapted to sharpen a safety razor blade either by stropping or honing, said machine including a rotary sharpening disk having an acting or sharpening face substantially at right angles to its axis of rotation, and means for rotating said disk, the disk being of such diameter that it is'adapted to sharpen the entire length of a blade edge presented to the sharpening face at either of two different sides of the disk axis.

y The chief object of the invention is to en-` able a blade to be manually applied, first tof a predetermined portionV of the acting face at one side of the axisA of the disk, Vandv then to another predetermined portion of said act` lng face preferably at the opposite side of said axis, so that both sides of the blade maybe sharpened by applying the blade first in an inclined operative position to one acting p0rtion of the sharpening face, and then in an oppositely inclined operative position to another acting portion of said face.

The arrangement is such that the movement of the acting portion of the disk face causes the same sharpening action when the blade is in either of said operative positions. In other Words, when the Sharpener is used for stropping, each acting portion ofthe disk moves outward from under the inclined blade and its cutting edge, and when the Sharpener is used for honing, each acting portion moves inwardv under the cutting edge and the inclined blade. i

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specificatiomy y Figure 1 is a side elevation of av bladesharpening machine embodying the invention. v

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine, portions being shown in section on the vplane indicated by line 2-,2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of a sharpening disk. ,p

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing the rotary table which supports the sharpening disk, and a portion ofthe motor shaft.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section on line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view, showing a plan view of the sharpening disk,land showing a blade-carrier and blade by full lines positioned to apply the blade to one predeter.` J

mined portion of the acting '.face, and by 55 dotted lines positioned to apply the blade to the other predetermined portion of said face.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective View showing details of one of the bearings shown inpla'nbyFigure2.v

"Figure 8 is a fragmentary section on line 88 of Figure 7. l Figures 9 and 10 show the blade-carrier separately. l l f Figure 11 is a section on lineV 11-11 of 65 Figure 9. p y

Figure 12 is afragmentaryview showing portions of the blade-carrier adapted for use with a one-edged blade. l

Y Figure 13 is a Figure 12. Y u l f A A Figure 14 shows in perspectivethe elements of the carrier separated from eachother.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of one of the covers hereinafter described and pressure 5 equalizing means associated therewith. Y

Figure 16 is a perspective view of, a differently formed sharpening dis same parts in all of the figures. V Y

In Figures 1 and 2 of Vthedrawings, 12 designates a Apreferably cylindrical casing' containing an'electric motor, designated as a whole by 13. A portion of the motor shaft 14 is shown by Figures 4 and 5. f 85 To one end of the shaft 14 is fixed a pref,- erably circular table 16, having a flat supporting face in a plane at right angles with theshaft. The table supports and rotates'a sharpening disk 15, whose acting face is also The same reference characters indicatethe:` 8.0.

at right angles with the shaft.

`The diskl is detachably coupled tothe table and vcaused to rotate therewith by a boss 17, fixed to the table in axial alinement with the shaft and entering a central socket` 95, 18 in the disk, and eccentrically located'studs 19, iixed to the table and entering eccentrically located sockets 2O in the disk,vprovision being thus made for quickly engaging the disk with,iand removing it from the table. 'Y i section on line y13u-13 of 70 either of two predetermined portions of the sharpeningr face, one portion being at one side, and the other at the opposite side of the axis of the disk, as indicated diagrammatically by Figure 6, one of said portions being 'under thefull line representation of the blade,

and the other portion underthe dotted linerepresentation.

Figure 6 illustrates the stroppi-ng function, the blade bein-g inclined in one direction as indicated by Figure 5, when in the full line position shown by Figure 6,and in the opposite direction when in the dotted line position. Each acting portion of thesharpening face therefore moves outward from under the inclinedblade and its cutting edge as indicated by the arrows in Figure 6.

The head 21 may be adapted to function as above described, by two orifices 23 and 24 formed therein, and arranged as shown by Figure 2, said arrangement being more fully described hereinafter.

VThe blade 22 is held and presented to the disk 15 bv a carrier which includes alined.

elongated journal members 25 adapted both to slideendwise and turn in fixed guiding means, and jaws connected with said members and adapted tof hold the blade so that it projects laterally from the axial line of said members. The preferred carrier as a whole is more fully described hereinafter.

The head 21 is provided with fixed guiding means adapted to cooperate with the-carrier members 2 5`in presenting a blade 22 in an inclined position to the two acting face portions of the disk successively, Yso that the blade may be applied first to one of said portions, and then tothe other, the arrangement being such that each side ofthe cutting edge may be sharpened by movement of an acting T portion of the disk 15 obliquely across said edge, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 6.

I prefer to embody the fixed guiding means in fixed alined bearings on the head 21, in whichthecarrier members25 are adapted to turn and move endwise, said bearing including an inner bearing on the margin of the head at oneside of the cent-er thereof and adjacent oner -end'of the opening 23, andan outer bearing on the margin of the head at the B5: opposite side of said center and adjacent one end of the opening 24, said bearings heilig formed to permit endwise rotary movements of the carrier and blade.

Each of said bearings is preferably constructed as best shown by Figure 7 and includes a block 28 having a recessed bearing face 29for a portion of the carrier, and internal recesses 30 forming seats for lthe heads of attaching screws 65, whereby the block is clamped against a vertical seat 66 on a marginal portion of the head 21, the head being provided with block-guiding projections 67 at opposite ends of the seat. The screws engage tapped sockets 68 in the sea-t.

` The block 28 is vertically adjustable by the means above described to vary the height of the carrier 25 and theangle at which a blade is presented thereby to the sharpening disk, adjustment. being effected by loosening the screws 35, raising or lowering `the block, and then tightening thescrews'. V-hen the block is at yits lowest adjustment its bearing face 29 is alined with a recessed bearing face 29a in the head 21. vSaid bearing faces areA open so. that the carrier' may be deposited thereon by al sidewise movement. rIhe block 28 is provi-ded with a holding down member 'ZO adapted to prevent accidental upward movement of the carrier in the bearing: said number being pivoted at one end of the block by a stud'70a, jso that it may be displaced as indicated by Figure 7 and provided at its swinging end with a notch adapted to engage a headed stud 71 on the block, to confine the member in its. holding 'down position shownV by Figures 1 and 2. Loose swinging movement of the' member-70 is opposed by a friction device or brake shown by Figure 8, and including a shoe or washer 7 2 pressed by a spring 73 against the member 70. Y

The pref-erred arrangement of the head openings 23 and 24 is as shown by Figure 2, the major portions of said openings being offset, one in one direction, and the oth-er in the opposite direction from the center Lline of the bearings. v

In ysharpening a blade the operator de-A positsthe carrier on the open bearings first in position to present the cutting edge to one of the exposed portions of the sharpening disk 15, andthen in position to present the other side of said cutting edge to the other exposedportion of the sharpening disk, the carrier being partly rotated in the bearings to swing the blade into the cover opening 23, as indicated by full lines in Figure 2, and press one side of vits cutting edge against the disk portion exposed by said opening, the blade being inclined; as shown byFigure When-one side of the cutting edge has been acted on by the portion of the disk exposed by the opening 23, the operator partly rotates the carrier to swing the blade out of theopening 23, then moves th-e carrier members 25 endwise in the twobearings, and

then partly rotates the carrier to vswing the blade into the cover opening 24, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, and press the other side of its cutting edge against the portion of the disk exposed by said opening.

The described operations may be repeatedV until both edges of the blade aresuitably sharpened.

During the sharpening operation the operator may reciprocate the holder and blade endwise toenable Aa uniform sharpening action along the entire Vlength of the blade.

It will now be seen that a blade 22 may. be presented in an inclined position tothe acting face of the disk, first in the opening 23, and then in the opening 24, each side of the cutting edge being sharpened by a movement of a portion of the disk 15 in an oblique di'- rection across the said cutting edge.

It will be' understood that when the disk 15 is of honing material, the direction of its rotation will preferably be opposite that indicated by Figure'.

When the machine is not in use, the `head openings 23 and 24 may be closedfby covers 33 formed to exclude dust from the acting face of the disk, "i" 1avingears' 34, hingedv to fixed ears 35 on the head 21.v

Each cover may be provided, as best shown by Figure 15, with a pressure equalizing rocking bar- 74 connected at its midlength portion with the cover by a pivot screw 7 5 (Figure 5) The lower edge of the equaliz-V ing bar is preferably acute angled and adapted to bear on the upper side of a blade 22 asV indicated by dotted lines in Figure 5.

p The pivotal connection of the bar with the cover 33 permits said edge to automatically assume a position parallel with the acting face of the sharpening'disk. and causes a uniform pressure of the entire bladeedge against the disk so that sharpening is uniform from end to end of the cutting edge,

the equalizingbar permitting longitudinal movementof the blade while it is being sharpened. j

A keeper 76 fixed at 'its opposite ends to the cover 33 by screws 77 prevents any movement of the bar 74 other thanV a rocking movement on the pivot screw 75, the limits of said movement being indicated by full and dotted lines in Figure 15.

VTo permit vertical adjustments of the table and disk, l provide an adjustable step bearing for the lower end of the shaft 14, as shown by Figure 1. .Said bearing preferablyr includes a step 36, having balls 36a, the step being supported and vertically adjustable by an adjustingscrew 37, engaged with a tapped orifice in a fixed cross-bar 38, and maintained at the desired adjustment lby a.

nut 39. The adjustability thus providedV permits any desired anglev of the blade relative to the acting face of the sharpening disk. The head 21may be separably secured to the casing 12 by bolts`40, pivoted'tok ears 41, on the casing and passing-through orifices inthe head, and clamping nuts 42 engaged with said bolts. "Thehead 21 is preferably y provided with a handle including a grip portion 43, and standards44, fixed to the cover.

l will now describe the preferred constructionof the carrier as a whole. f'

The carrier members 25, preferably tubular, are spaced apart by a vcylindricaly pintle or neck 46, of smaller diameter,v as best shown by Figure 14. End portions ofthe pintle are inserted in end portions of the vmembers 25, and rigidly secured therein by any suitable means. f Y

47 designates av bladeegrasping jaw .have ing tubular ears48, receiving thev pintle 46 'and rigidly attached theretoby a pin. 49, or any other suitable means, the outer ends of 5 8 50 designates a blade-grasping jaw hav-` the ears 48 abuttingthe members 25'. v

ing a hinge socket 51', adapted-to'turn on the pintle 46'. Said socket is shorter than the distance between the ltubular'ears 48, so that the socket is adapted-to slidefendwise on'the pintle, the jaw 50 of course, sliding'with the socket. H

In one end of thesocket51 is a Aclutch meme i ber preferably a: slot 52, adapted to receive a complemental clutch `member preferably I,a fixed stud .53 on the pintle 46; VA spring 54 embracing'a portion of the pintle 46V is interposed between one of the Vears 48 and-one end of the socket 51,'and is adapted to cause the slot 52 to receive the pin 53, as shown by Figure 9, so that the jaw 47 is locked against the blade. f

' A blade having the usuall openings may be placed on studs55 on the jaw 50 vwhen the jaws are separated, as indicatedby Figure 10, such separation being permittedby mov-` ing the socketV 51 endwise, and thus disengagv ing the slot 52 from the stud 53. The blade is `then. confined by swinging the jaw 47 against it, as shown byFigure 11, while thev slot 52 is disengaged from the stud 53, and

then allowing the spring 54 to force the socket 51 endwise `until the slot. 52 receives the stud 53, the jaw l47 being thus'locked against the blade. Y

Y The. jaw 47 is provided with slots57 which receive the studs 55 when the jaws are closed on the blade, said slots being elongated to permitfthe described endwise movement of the socket 51, and the jaw 50 thereto attached.

The -socket 51 may be provided with exter-` to the position members 25 of the carrier'ar'e so proportioned that vthey are adapted to be supported by the inner and outer bearings, and moved endwise thereon to locate a blade at either side of the axial center ofthe sharpening disk, and permit the described swinging movements of the blade to either of the positions it occupies while being sharpened. I therefore consider said journal members important elements of the carrier. i I do not limit myself, however, to the described blade-coniining means, and may .variously modify the same without departing from the spirit of the invention. f Y

A blade sharpening machine embodying the invention necessarily comprises a rotating disk having an acting face in a plane substantially at right angles to its axis, and means for movably supporting a blade 22 and operatively locating it with its cutting` edge in contact with either of two predetermined portions of said acting face, one of said portions being at one side, and the other at a difV ferentand preferably opposite side, of the disk axis, so that said portions are caused by the rotation of the disk to move in substantially opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 6.

Figure 16 shows a sharpening disk formed as a multiple lap having a plurality of spacedzapart annular acting face portions concentric with each other and with the axis of the disk, and of different widths. In this instance four acting face portions are. shown,

? these being designated respectively by 15a,

fsu

15b, 15o, and 15d; The inner face portion 15a has a. maximum widtln and each of the other face portions is narrower than the portion surrounded by it.

H46 The object of this formation is to render the sharpening action more uniform from end to end of the cutting edge of a blade than is the case when the entire length of the cutting edge bears on the continuous or uninter- 5 rupted acting face shown by Figure 3. 'I-he increase of the surface velocity of the acting.

face from the centre outwardly, renders the sharpening action more rapid at the marginal portion than at the central portion of the disk. The reduced area of the acting face provided by the relatively'narrow outer annular portions, prevents a tendency of the outer portion of the acting face to sharpen more rapidly than the central portion.

The' carrier is movable endwise in its bearings during the sharpening operatiomso that the operator is enabled to reciprocate the blade endwise while it is being sharpened, and thus move the cutting edge across the an- "O nular acting face portions, and causea uniform sharpening of all portions of said edge. It will be seen that the head 21, provided with the openings 23 and 24, is fixed in position to partly cover the sharpening face, said 'openings being arrangedto expose two portions of said face at opposite sides of the disk axis. The arrangement of said openings out of alinement with each other locates one opening odset from one side of the carrier bearings, and the other opening offset from the opposite side of said bearings. The arrangement is therefore such that when the disk is rotated in a predetermined direction, one side of a. blade 22 grasped by the jaws of the blade carrier may be presented to, and sharpened by, one of said exposed portions when the blade is inclined in one direction, and the opposite side of said edge may be presented to and sharpened by the other exposed portion when the blade is inclined in an opposite direction, so that each side of the blade is sharpened by the same movement of the sharpening face relative to its cutting edge.

It will also be seen that the head prevents the presentation of the blade to the other portions of the sharpening area.

The organization characterized as above stated is particularly useful and important when the machine'is used for stropping, the sharpening disk being of leather, because when the disk is rotated as indicated by the arrows in Figure 6, the openings 23 and 24 permit the presentation ofthe blade 22 to the sharpening face only in such positions as to ensure the movement of the sharpening face outward yfrom under the blade, as indicated also by Figures 2 and 3 of the sketch'sheet, and therefore prevent the blade from cutting into the stropping material of the disk;

I claim:

l. A razor-blade Sharpener comprising, in combination, a rotary Vsharpening disk, a blade carrier, and bearings arranged to operatively support and locate the carrier in either of two' operative positions relative to the disln'sa'id blade carrier comprising journal members spaced apart and connected by' a pintle member alined therewith, a fixed jaw engaged with said pintle member, and a swinging jaw provided with a socket adapted to turn and move endwise on said pintle member, and a spring normallyI hollding said socket at one end of its endwise movability, the socket and pintle member being provided with clutch members whereby the swinging jaw is locked when moved against a blade interposed between the jaws.

2. In a blade-sharpening machine having a rotating sharpening tool provided with a flat acting face and a holder for the blade to be sharpened, adapted to locate the blade at an inclination to said tool with its edge in contact with the acting face of the tool, a pressure-applying member adapted to press the blade edge against the tool, and a pressureequalizing floating rocker bar pivoted between its endsl to said applying `member and arranged to extendlengthwise of the blade and bear on the outer side thereof and equals ize the pressure of different portions of the blade edge against said acting face, the bar permitting endwise movement of the blade on the fiat acting face while the blade is being sharpened.

3. A razor-blade sharpener comprising, in

combination,` a rotary sharpening disk having a flat acting face, a blade carrier, carriersupporting and locating means organized to support and locate the carrier in different p0- sitions, said means including a supporting structure having a head adjacent the acting face of said disk and provided with bladereceiving openings, formed and arranged to expose portions of said face, and movable covers for said openings adapted to exert downward pressureand provided with rocking pressure-equalizing bars pivoted between their ends to said covers and adapted to bear on the outer sides of blades in the openings and equalize the pressure of all portions of the blade edges on said'acting face, the bars permitting endwise movement of the blade on the flat acting face wh-ilethe blade is being sharpened.

4. A razor blade Sharpener comprising, in

combination, a rotary disk having a sharpening face whose diameter is more than twice the length of a blade, a driven shaft engaged with the disk center and journalled in xed bearings, a head fixed over and partly covering the sharpening face, said head having two openings arranged to expose two portions of the sharpening face at opposite sides of the disk axis, said openings being out of alinement with each other, blade carrier bearings on said head, and a blade carrier including blade-grasping jaws and alined journal members adapted to turn and move endwise in said bearings, one of the head openings being 4G offset from one side, and the other opening from the opposite side of said bearings, the arrangement being such that when the disk is rotated in a predetermined direction one side of a grasped blade edge may be presented to,

and sharpened-by, one of said exposed portions, the blade being inclined in one direction, and the opposite side of said edge may be presented to, and sharpened by, the other exposed portion, the blade being inclined in an opposite direction, each side of the blade being sharpened bythe same movement of the` sharpening face relative to its cutting edge, the head preventing the presentation of the blade to other portions of the sharpening face.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature. Y

GEORGE W. BOWERS. 

